Advisory Note

Please Note: This blog contains poorly painted toy soldiers that may offend those of an aesthetically sensitive disposition.

Sunday 11 February 2018

One Basic Battle

Rambling Intro

Like many people, I started wargaming armed with some boxes of Airfix 1/72nd scale figures and some library copies of Donald Featherstone's marvellous books, and (again like some others I think) that is where I have often returned, in spirit at least. It's a "happy place".  Anyway, it came to my attention recently that it's probably nearly 40 years since I played an American Civil War game in 1/72nd scale (I've played some 2mm ACW which was fun but not quite the same) so I thought I'd put this right. Following is an infantry skirmish in what is likely to be a familiar setting to many, using The Portable Wargame rules.


Game footage

Both Confederate and Union forces started with four infantry units and a commander; the standard bearer was just for the look of the thing and didn't count towards strength points etc.
The battlefield in Battles with Model Soldiers
The Gridded field of conflict
The two forces rush for the cover of the wall
End of Turn 1
Turn 2 - Union troops take the wall but also some casualties
Turn 5 - The exposed Rebels start to wilt under sustained fire
Turn 6 - The Confederates fall back but are rallied again and again
Turn 8 - Disaster for the Union as their Commander falls
Turn 9 - both sides reach Exhaustion Point. The Game is over.

Short, sharp but satisfying - the three S's of Battling with Model Soldiers? Perhaps not for everyone, but I enjoyed this fast little action. I think I'll count this a draw. The South lost more men but the Fed's commander fell so they could take no more decisive action. 
Next time, some more PW Fantasy! (Hopefully).

12 comments:

  1. Great to see those beautiful old Airfix figures again, and the Featherstone scenarios. Great game, and I like the basing/squares. A larger scenario with units as brigades would work too, and would be useful for larger campaigns.

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    1. Thanks and glad you enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane! I agree that the units could be seen as being much larger formations - an idea to try in the future. Bringing the horse soldiers in next time.

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  2. Wow, way to dust off a classic!. Very nice looking game as ever. you captured the spirit of Featherstone really well.

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  3. Classic figures, classic scenario.

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    1. Partly inspired by some of your posts Mark - I intend to try and get a train into a future game too!

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  4. It's always good to see old Airfix ACW figures in battle. I must dig mine out and get them into battle again.

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  5. They are full of character aren't they - it's probably got a lot to do with childhood memories but they are my favourite ACW figures and I wish that they were produced again commercially.

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  6. Everything wargaming should be. Great to see the Airfix chaps getting an outing.

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    1. They are tremendously old and brittle (I can empathise) but still have a lot of fight in them!

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